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Hope Summer Repertory Theatre Announces 2011 Season

Submitted by Julie Huisingh on Tue, 2011-05-24 11:56

The Hope Summer Repertory Theatre announces a 40th season that will be full of music, comedy, laughter, life lessons, and sentimentality. Be sure to fit HSRT's productions into your summer calendar! The season begins on June 17th and runs through August 13th at three locations: DeWitt Theatre, the Knickerbocker Theatre, and Hope's Studio Theatre.

° Opening the season on June 17th is Children of Eden: from Stephen Schwartz (Godspell and Wicked) and John Caird (Les Misrables) comes a joyous musical about parents and children...not to mention centuries of unresolved family business! Freely based on the story of Genesis, Children of Eden is a frank, heartfelt and often humorous musical examination of the conflict between parents and children. Performances are at 8:00 p.m. on June 17, 18, 23, 30, July 12, 16, 25, 30, August 5, and 12.

° One of Britain's best playwrights introduces us to characters we meet with delighted recognition. In the frothy style of Alan Ayckbourn, Taking Steps, opening on June 24th, is a wild ride in mistaken identity, misunderstandings and dysfunctional relationships in this ridiculously hilarious farce spanning just one night - and was that night spent in a haunted house? Performances are on June 24, 25, 29, July 1, 7, 14, 20, and 26 at 8 p.m. in the DeWitt Theatre.

° Fasten your seat belts, return your tray tables to the upright position and prepare to blast off for rock and roll! Return to the Forbidden Planet by Bob Carlton, a returning HSRT musical favorite, opens on July 8th. Come aboard the starship Albatross on a routine scientific survey flight. But wait! We are hit by an asteroid storm, the science officer disappears, and our ship is being drawn into the planet D'Illyria by the evil force of Doctor Prospero. Will the passengers and crew survive? If survival depends on comedy and great rock and roll the answer is a resounding YES! Performances continue at 8 p.m. on July 9, 13, 15, 21, 28, August 3, 6, 9, and 11 in the DeWitt Theatre.

° The season continues on July 22nd with one of the best-loved stories ever told of immigrants in America, I Remember Mama by John Van Druten. This timeless play is based on the book Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes, and it not only became a hit play, but a successful radio and TV show and movie. The oldest daughter in this family of tight-knit Norwegian immigrants in San Francisco at the turn of the century takes us through her memories of their struggles with family conflict, loyalty, crisis and financial problems, but most of all her memories of Mama. Performances are at 8 p.m. on July 22, 23, 27, 29, and August 2, 4, 8, 10, and 13 in the DeWitt Theatre.

° Opening on August 1st in downtown Holland's Knickerbocker Theatre on August 1st is our special event, Guys on Ice with book and lyrics by Fred Alley and music by James Kaplan. You've seen them--little wooden shanties on LakeMacatawa. You've met them - they are your cousins, uncles, brothers or friends and they LOVE ice fishing. In a cold world, on a cold day, on a frozen lake, it is a secret culture that thrives right here amongst us. With music and comedy, enter the world of the ice fishing culture and Packer-obsessed Wisconsinites - and in fact, a comic phenomenon of our own upper Midwest! Join us for a limited run at 8 p.m. on August 1, 2, 4, 8, and 10 in the Knickerbocker Theatre.

° Look for our upcoming Children's Troupe shows opening on June 22nd. CPT will be performing How I Became a Pirate by Alyn Cardarelli and Steve Goers, based on the book by Melinda Long, on June 22, 27, 29, July 1, 6, 25, 29, August 3, 8, and 12 at 10:30 a.m. and July 27, August 1, 5, and 10 at 1:30 p.m. The Borrowers based on the novel by Mary Norton, and adapted for stage by Charles Way, is at 10:30 a.m. on July 13, 15, 18, 20, 27, and August 1, 5, and 10 and 1:30 p.m. on August 3, 8, and 12. Both performances are in the Studio Theatre in the DeWitt Center.

Tickets are now on sale through the DeWitt and DeVos Fieldhouse ticket offices. Prices range from $10-$26 for musicals, and $8-$19 for plays as well as season tickets, ranging from $48-$85, are also available.

The ticket office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Beginning June 13th the ticket office is open on Saturday's at noon. On performance dates, the DeWitt Ticket Office will be open through intermission. The ticket office is located in DeWitt Cultural Center at 12th Street and Columbia Avenue. For tickets call the ticket office at 616-395-7890. For more information visit the HSRT website at www.hope.edu/hsrt.

The DeWitt Theatre is located at 141 East 12th street. The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in Holland's downtown on 8th street.

HSRT is now on facebook! Keep up to date with what's happening this season by searching Hope Summer Repertory Theatre on www.facebook.com.